Wednesday, August 5, 2009

All - after serious discussions this morning with my colleagues (most of which are Navy guys and Government employees), I decided to suck it up and pay the extra $$ to have my breakables shipped via UPS. One of the guys was telling me a few of his Grandma's horror stories with airlines damaging things in her suitcase...apparently she won't even travel without sending her things via UPS ahead of time. It does make the prospect of heading for the airport via public transportation so much more appealing. I'm still bringing a lot of extra stuff with me, but it's a manageable amount. Anyhoo, just wanted to give you an update in case the last email was seriously alarming. I was tired and venting. The sun rose this morning and I felt so happy because I know the next couple of weeks are going to fly by and then I will be Mrs. Melody Cook. It's kind of fun to have a name change, right? I was having some serious reservations about ditching "mathews" - it has served me really well and does seem to be so much more special now that I have decided to take his last name. Mrs. Melody Mathews-Cook is just too long and I don't want to lose my middle name, Joy. It was funny to see so many people raise their eyebrows when I told them I was considering keeping my last name - what's the big deal anyway?? So much of our identity is tied up in the last name - it's really difficult to pull off the whole switcheroo. I still call some of my closest friends by their maiden name. It wasn't until I changed their info in my address book that my brain clued in to the fact that they had new names. I guess it takes some brides nearly a year to officially change all of their records. Yikes. I have a hard enough time notifying everyone when I move...

Maybe I should rethink the switch...What do you think?? Are you raising your eyebrows as you read this? No offense or anything, I'm just curious because it doesn't bother me and I always wonder why it bothers some people.

Ps. I'm so happy that I don't have to lug a huge suitcases to the airport and worry the entire plane ride that everything is broken. Now I can just sit back and enjoy several hours of P&Q along with a few episodes of the Closer (new fav). Homeward Bound!

There is just something so sureal about taking a man's last name...means you belong to each other! I had a hard time letting mine go and saying it but i grew to love it because it was Ben's and it was something that he could only share with me! Anyway you feel though is what you should go with!

Trust me Mel, I'm pretty sure after the wedding you will be dying to be "Mrs. Cook" officially. Its such a great feeling to belong to someone like that. And its so bonding when you get that drivers license that says your guy's last name! It made me so happy!

I'm advising that you do whatever feels right to you. I really regret not keeping McDermott in my name anywhere, but that's me. I was talked out of keeping it as my middle name, and I should have gone with my instinct.

I am so traditional <3 Our entire youth we grow, nurture, enlighten, teach, guide, and share with the world all of our talents and gifts as 'individual' women. Eventually though, we find the person we want to spend the rest of our lives with and we become a part of something much greater. Personally, I believe that changing your last name is a reflection of your union and your future endeavors with that person as a 'team'.